Yagnas and Yagas - A Workbook

YagnasandYagasA
Workbook
Yagnas and Yagas A Workbook

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Contents

Sri Chandi Yagna .............................................................................................................................................................. 3
Ganesha Yaga .................................................................................................................................................................. 5
Vishnu Yaga ...................................................................................................................................................................... 6
Rudra Yaga ....................................................................................................................................................................... 8
Agnihotra - Shrauta and Smarta forms ........................................................................................................................... 10

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Sri Chandi Yagna

Dear all, Sri Chandi Yajna is a smartha yajna. I hope you all are aware of the difference between smartha and
shrautha yagnas. Still for the understanding of a person who hears these terms for the first time, let me add a
definition. Agni are of various types in which two prominent are shrauta agni and smartha agni. The yagnas which
used smartha agni are smartha yagnas and those which use shrauta agni are shrauta yagnas.
Now Sri Chandi Yajna is discussed in two levels
1) The mantras and other relevant shlokas being used
2) The procedure in itself
Let me outline the mantras for the Sri Chandi Yajna.

Moola Mantra
Om aim hreem kleem chaamundaayai vichche
Devata Dhyana
Viduddaamasamaprabhaam mrigapatiskandhasthitaam
bheeshanaam
kanyabhihi karavaala khetavilasaddhastaabhiraasevitaam
Hastaishchakragadaasikhetavishikhaamshchaapam
gunam tarjaneem
Bibhraanaamanalaatmikaam shashidharaam
durgaam trinetraam bhaje
Gayatri
There are two variants which are used. Both are mentioned below
Om kaatyaayanai cha vidmahe kanyaakumaarayai cha dheemahi , tanno durge prachodayaat
or
Om girijaayai cha vidmahe shivapriyaayai cha dheemahi , tanno durge prachodayaat

Swahakara Mantras
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1. from markandeya purana , the saptashati mantras
2. lalitha sahasra naamavali (1008 names)

Dear all, let me briefly tell you about the origin of this ritual. J amini, who studied under Ved Vyasa on dharma shastra
still had some doubts. So he approached sage markendeya. But markendeya had transcended every aspects
pertaining to the world by that time. Still understanding the sincere devotion of jamini, he manifested as a vision and
transfered him the "devi mahatmya". Thus jamini was enlightened with the complete understanding of the astounding
power of goddess.
Its said that a conscious reciter( pathi) will unlock the mysteries and codes and enjoy all wealth and prosperity. But to
recite the mantras properly is very importance in the recital of original words of the Saptashati. One should realize the
subtle vibrations.
Let me move in to the second part of the discussion of Sri Chandi Yajna.
The auspicious time for conducting the yajna is the Karka Lagna on Monday,Navami tithi and under the mriga shira
Nakshatra.
Sri Durga or Chandi Yajna has three major parts.
1) Recitation of the Saptashathi
2) Repetition as in the with the size of the austerity either, Nava chandi, Sat Chandi, Sahasra chandi etc
3) The dispensation as mentioned as path, purushacharana and viniyoga
The mahasankalpa is pronounced every day followed by the predetermined number of repetition. The path also has
daily sankalpa and ends with the completion of the same.
Chandi Yajna has four types of Bali, kumari pooja for the proper completion of the ritual.
Depending on the size of the Yajna, we have to do the japa, havan, tarpana, marjara and santarpan in a chandi yajna.
For eg: if the Yajna is conducted in the large scale with 10,000 numbers. Then swahakara is as follows.
The ratio of japa: havan: tarpan: marjan: santarpan is 10,000: 1000: 100: 10: 1. For a Sat Chandi Yajna,10
brahmins(pathi) are required other than acharya , brahma etc.

Dear all lets now look into the types of this Yajna based on the reason of conducting it.
The smallest one is the Nava Chandi, which is performed on house holds for the fulfillment of small needs. Sat Chandi
is performed for that correction of faults which are inherent with birth and to eliminate it (prarabdha dosha).
The articles of oblation are usually the same with other Yajnas. But the special items are tulsi leaves , bel leaves ,
lotus flowers , cardamom , cloves and dried fruits.
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Chandi yajna full fills all the desires of a person, a society, a country etc based on the sankalpa. This is to be
performed in grand scale as the sankalpa goes higher in order too. Thus I conclude the Sri Chandi Yajna explanation.

Ganesha Yaga

Let me outline how the ganesha yaga is conducted. This is also a smartha yaga and is conducted using the
smarthagni. The yantra of ganesha to be used or drawn have to be learned from a guru. briefly speaking it has one
pentagram in the center, an encompassing upward pointing triangle , then the asta dala along veedhi vruthaas etc.

Moola Mantra
Om gam ganapathaye nama:

Devatha Dhyana
Kharvam sthoolathanum gajendravadanam lambodaram sundraram
Prasyandam madagandha lubdha madhupa vyalola gandasthalam
Dantaaghaat vidaaritaarirudhiraih sindhurshobhaakaram
Vande shailasutasutam ganapathim siddhipradam kaamadam

he who is short in size, obese whose face is like an elephant and has a big stomach, whose forehead is shining from
the flowing liquid (ambrosia) licked by black bees that was attracted to the fragrance of the liquid, the one whose body
is brilliantly red in color due to the enemys blood smeared all over. It oozed out of their body due to injuries made by
ganesha's teeth, the son of mother parvathi, shaila suta who full fills all the desires of devotees. (I offer my
salutations).

Gayatri
Om ekdantaaya vidmahe vakratundaaya dheemahi
tannodanthi: prachodayaat.

Swahakara Mantra
1. Shukla yajur veda (33.65-72) starting from Om aa tu na .....
2. 1008 names of ganesha naamavali as per puranas
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In case Ganesh yaga is more than a day, the 8 mantras from shukla yajurveda are used to do oblations first.
Alternately the 1008 names are used. On the last day there is havan with the 1008 names. The total number of
required oblations is 100,000.

Ahuti Dravya
The common yagna articles like sesame, rice, yava, sugar, gritha, dried fruits, sandalwood powder, bhoja patra,
guggul mango tree figs are used here. The special articles for ganesha yaga are durva and modaka.

Benefits
This yaga can give abundant wealth and makes him/her eligible for divyaloka after death.

|| iti ganesha yaga vidhana samaptam ||

Vishnu Yaga

Let me outline the Vishnu Yaga and its intricate details and benefits.
The yantra drawn for this smartha yaga is the central pentagram, encircled with a asta dala (8 leaflets), encircled
followed by a shodasa dalas (16 leaflets) with bhupuras and their 4 entrances. This is a preliminary description and
the intricate details on the terms mentioned should be learned from a competent guru.

Moola Mantra
Om Namo Narayanaya

Dhyana Shloka
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Shaanthaakaram bhujagashayanam padmanaabham suresham
vishvaadhaaram gaganasadhrushaam meghavarnaam shubhangam
Lakshemekaantaam kamalayanayanam yogeebhridhyanagamyaam

Vande vishnum bhavabhayaharam sarva lokaikanaatham
(Since this is a very common shloka, the meaning is available easily for the reader)

Gayathri
Om Naaraayanaanya vidmahe vasudevaaya dheemahi
tanno vishnuh prachodayaat

Swahakara Mantras
1. From vedas: Purusha Sukta in 10.90 of Rig Veda starting with Sahasrasheersa purusha ..... (but should mention the
auxiliary rishi ( medhadikanwa ) , diety (vishnu) and chanda (gayatri ) along with narayana rishi : purusho devata:
anustup chanda:)
2. From puranas: the 1008 names (vishnu shasra naamavali)

Swahakara
This yaga can be done in three most popular ways. Vishnu yaga, Maha Vishnu yaga and Ati Vishnu Yaga. The
duration can be 5, 8, 9 or 11 days. The numbers of oblations are 16,000 for Vishnu yaga, 160,000 for Maha Vishnu
yaga and 332,000 for Ati Vishnu yaaga. The number of fire pits depends on the number of priests who perform the
offerings.

Ahuti Dravya
The yaga can have all the general ahuti dravyas used for other yagas with tulsi leaves as an added special offering.

Muhurta
This yaga is strictly connected with the time and day for conducting it. The months which this yaga is conducted is on
Chaitra, phalguna, J yeshtha and Magha. The tithi are the twelfth day of the waxing period of moon. Full moon day, no
moon day Samkranti,jhoolanotsva. This yaga is also conducted along with other purifying to pacifying samaskaras like
upanayana, vivaha, griha pravesha etc.
Generally first day of the waxing period to 5th day of the waning period of moon is acceptable too.
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Benefits
This is a shantipushtikarmani (peace and prosperity karma). Vishnu, the supporter of creation is glorified and those
who completely surrenders to vishnu attains the purusharthas (dharma, artha, kama and moksha).

|| iti sri vishnu yaga vidhana samaptham ||

Rudra Yaga

Let me outline the rudra yaga now. The yantra drawn for rudra yaga is much similar to Vishnu yaga yantra. The center
has a pentagram, with only one asta dala and the boundaries.

Devatha Dhyana
Dhyaayennittyaam mahesham rajatagirinibham chaaruchandraavatamsam,
Ratnakalpojjvalaangam parashu mrigavaraabheetihastam prasannam
Padmaseenam samantaatstutamamaraganaivyaarghrikrittim vasaanam
Vishvaadyam vishvavandyam nikhilabhayaharam panchavaktram trinethram

(Meditate constantly on the lord Mahesha, O blessed self, who resembles the snow covered mountains and who
wears the crescent moon like the ornament, whose body radiates the glow of the jewel, the one who has the trident,
has raised his hands to protect anyone who appears kind who seated in a lotus surrounded by all devas, tiger skin
clad, bow to him who was existent from those periods where universe was not formed completely to the shape, the
one who vanquish all fears and agonies and who has five faces and three eyes)

Gayathri
Om tatpurushaaya vidmahe mahadevaya dheemahi, tanno rudra prachodayat

Swahakara Mantra
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1. From vedas: the purusha sukta (Rig Veda 10.90.1-16) followed by Rudra sukta (Rig Veda 2.33.1 -15)
2. From Puranas: 1008 names of Shiva (Shiva sahasra namavali)

Swahakara
The yaga is in three ways - Laghu Rudra, Maha Rudra, Ati Rudra yaga with the respective number of oblations 19,
921; 219,131; 2,410,441 respectively.

Ahuthi Dravya
In addition to articles commonly used for yagnas, leaves of bel tree, milk, sugarcane juice etc are specially used for
Rudra Yaga.

Muhurta
The importance of auspicious time at which this yaga should commence is as follows:
Nakshatra: Ashwini, Revati, Ardra, Hasta, Purnarvasu, Pushya
Day: Sunday, Tuesday
Tithi: In the summer solstice, Uttarayana 1,3,5,6,8,10,11,13,15th of the fortnight (days of no study and no tithi at
sunrise to be avoided)

Benefits
The rudra yaga has got certain distinct benefits. It is mainly aimed for attaining the mitigation of illness caused by
animals, other beings, humans and creatures and also of neighboring countries. It also can be used to correct mental
illness, lethargy and is most commonly used for overcoming fear of death. Those who aim for moksha also performs
rudra yaga.

Special Procedure in Rudra Yaga for a General Understanding
Although, Rudra yaga has a commonality with the other yaga procedures, there is one aspect which makes it distinct.
This is the abhisheka on pinda or idol. Based on the sankalpa of yajamana the abhisheka dravya can be milk, sugar
cane juice or Ganga jal continuously for the entire duration. The number of repetition of the path depends on the
sankalpa. At the the end of the abhisheka, the idol is mounted on the top of a kalasha. Then havan and swahakara is
done to the chanting of Rudra Sukta.

|| iti rudra yaga vidhana samaptam ||
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Agnihotra - Shrauta and Smarta forms

Let me outline the shrauta and smartha versions of one of most commonly known and the simplest of Yajna , the
Agnihotra.
Agnihotra is the second among the Sapta havi samsta series. Its to be performed daily. Its a daily ritual to be
performed two times a day by a grihasta from the very day of agnyadhana (the first ritual in the havi samsta, it is the
establishment of the fire ceremony).
Agnihotra is essentially a havan performed with milk, gritha as oblations. On contrary to the popular belief, Agnihotra
can be performed even by unmarried people (usually shrauta rites can only be performed by married people). The
major references are Shatapatha Brahmana (12.4.1, 12.4.1-7) and also the Aitareya Brahmana (32.8).
The devatas for the Agnihotra are Surya and Agni. Agni is the devata for the night and Surya for the day. The second
oblation is given to prajapathi in both the evening and morning rituals
The mantras used in for Shrauta and Smartha Agnihothra are different. The mantras and procedure references used
for each system are as follows
Shrauta
Surya: Suryo jyothi jyothih suryah swaha (morning)
Agni: Agni jyothi J yothih agnih swaha (evening)

Procedure:
The morning ritual should start soon after sunrise and the evening ritual should be close with sunset. The shrauta set
of procedures is 20 step process, but in this havan, there is no poornahuthi (refer to katyayanas commentary). I would
be discussing on the procedure on translation thread of Aitareya brahmana. Even though with these steps, it will take
less than half an hour to complete. The havi dravya used varies based on the desired result. For eg: for general
welfare its cow milk.
Smarta
Surya: Suryaya swaha suryaya idam na mama
Agni: Agnaye swaha agnaye idam na mama
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Procedure
The timings are similar with the shrauta version. But the process is simpler and will take only a few minutes to
complete. The detailed process will be explained in the translation section.

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